(Image source: PyeongChang 2018 FB Page)

The Winter Olympics always sneaks up on us soon after the Summer Games is done. This time around, the 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in and around PyeongChang, known to be the smallest city to host an Olympic Games since the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

However, even though it’s a relatively small mountain town, we’ve been there recently to visit some of their test events, new building made specially for the coming games, and even the Olympic Center, we must admit that they did a pretty good job in preparation for next year’s much anticipated games. Additionally, Gangwon Province is an exceptionally beautiful place that we feel is perfect for visitors who are interested in both 2018 Winter Olympics and sight-seeing around PyeongChang.

12FLY will be providing constant updates on the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics from our perspective, as well as places you could visit and eat if you are planning to visit Gangwon Province in the future. Just keep following us here! For now, here’s what you need to know about the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

#1 When: 9-25 February 2018 (17 days)

#2 Where: PyeongChang, Gangneung, and Jeongseon

PyeongChang is the main area where it will stage the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and most snow sports. Jeongseon will mend the Alpine speed events while all ice sports will be competed in the coastal city of Gangneung.

#3 Competition venues are all within 30 minutes’ driving distance from the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.

One big advantage of this coming 2018 Winter Olympics is that all the venues are within a short drive of each other!

#4 New Sports: Snowboarding Big Air (men,women), Curling Mixed Doubles, Speed Skating Mass Start (men,women), and Alpine Skiing Team

With this, they will also be known for staging the greatest number of women’s and mixed events in the history of Olympic Winter Games!

#5 Slogan: Passion. Connected.

#6 Emblem: It symbolises a world open to everyone.

#7 Mascot: Soohorang the White Tiger

(Image source: PyeongChang 2018 FB Page)

The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics mascot was inspired by the white tiger, an animal that has been long considered as Korea’s guardian animal. “Sooho” means protection in Korean, symbolises protection offered to the athletes, spectators and others in the 2018 Games. “Rang” comes from “Ho-rang-I”, the Korean word for “Tiger”, as well as the last letter of “Jeong-seon A-ri-rang”, a traditional folk song of Gangwon Province, where the Games will be held.

#8 The new Ice Temples are not going to waste

The two newly built Gangneung Ice Arena holds two ice rinks with one for training and another for competition. They come with environmentally friendly cooling system for the ice. Additionally, after the Games, it will become a facility open to the public. Thank goodness it’s not left to rot.

#9 High Speed Railroad (KTX) get you from Incheon Airport to Gangneung in less than 2 hours!

The accessibility to Gangwon Province will be greatly improved when they are open for operation at the end of 2017. We believe that most of us are most likely to take the train to visit places in South Korea but if you are interested in driving, you may find out more about their highways and local roads here. 

For more information, visit PyeongChang2018 official website!

(Image & Info source: PyeongChang 2018 website)